Guyana case goes to next round of proceedings

Guyana case goes to next round of proceedings
08 October 2009


The legal dispute between the Guyanese government and Trinidad Cement Limited (TCL) has gone to the next round of legal proceedings, as the cement maker has filed a request with the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) to hold the government of Guyana in contempt of court for failing to implement the Common External Tariff (CET) of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

In August, the CCJ had ruled that Guyana was in breach of the norms that govern the CET and the government had been given 28 days to re-instate the common tariff for cement.

The deadline for complying with the ruling expired on 17 September, but the government has taken no steps to comply with the ruling, TCL said in a statement.Significance: Guyana’s attorney general Charles Ramson was quoted in the press saying that Guyana would be prepared to honour the order of the court.

But the ongoing dispute highlights the difficulties of implementing and enforcing CARICOM laws, as the economic downturn reinforces protectionist reflexes in the member states. For economic integration to proceed, swift compliance with court rulings remains of overarching importance.

Source: IHS Global Insight Daily Analysis

Published under Cement News